Student Finance

Students who have lived in Scotland for 3+ years who apply to study at a Scottish university or college do not need to pay any tuition fees. These will be paid in full by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Each student simply must complete the relevant form on SAAS before they begin their studies.

However, many students do need additional help to cover their living expenses, particularly if they are moving into student accommodation.

Here are 2 of the options students can consider supporting the cost of college or university.

Some students could be eligible, based on certain criteria, to get money from SAAS which they do not need to pay back. Each university will have its own information on what bursaries it offers for students, and SAAS has information on which courses offer bursaries.

Here are a few bursaries to consider:
- Another bursary to consider is the ICAS Foundation Bursary (worth up to £2,500) which opens in March of the academic year. You can find out more information about this here.
- The Santander Universities Scholars Programme (worth up to £30,000 over a 3-year period). You can find out more information about this here.
- The Robertson Trust Scholarship Programme (eligible students could access a bursary worth £4,250 per year). You can find out more information about this here.
- The Sutton Trust Fullbright US Programme supports students from state schools in S5 to explore US study and access leading universities. It includes two residentials before all students spend a week in the US staying on campus at a leading US university and visiting a variety of other American universities. You can find more information here
Most students will apply for a student loan to help cover the additional costs of their living expenses. Every student is eligible to apply for a student loan, but the amount they are eligible to receive will vary depending on certain criteria, but you can find out more on SAAS. Student loans will need to be repaid, but not until the student has completed their course, is in employment, and earning over the threshold set by SAAS which you can find out here.

It is a good idea to think about the costs of college or university when you are preparing for your journey into Higher Education, but there is a lot of support with the financial costs of your study.

If you are a Scottish school leaver and have lived in Scotland for 3 years you won’t need to pay any tuition fee and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will cover your course fees in full. You just need to complete an application form on the SAAS website before you start your course.

This means your only expenses are living costs which could be for accommodation, food, or travel. However, if you decide to study outside of Scotland then you will have to pay tuition fees for the course at college or university and you would need to take out a student loan to cover that, which is something to consider when making your choices.
Yes, there are two types of support SAAS can offer as possibilities.

Bursaries- this is extra money you can get given from SAAS in addition to your tuition fees being covered which you do not pay back after you finish your course. There are different types of bursaries available with different criteria for each for you to be eligible to get this money. It is important to check the SAAS website, or the university you are applying for to see what bursaries you could get.

Loans- this is money you borrow from SAAS which you will need to pay back gradually once you finish your course, and you are in employment. Every student is eligible to apply for a student loan, but it is an important decision to consider, so make sure you do your research on the SAAS website.
This can vary depending on which institution you choose to go to, and what kind of accommodation you want to live in. There are different choices you can make with student halls with shared or single flats, ensuite or shared bathrooms, and catered or self-catered accommodation. The differences in these can make some student halls less expensive than others, so it is important you research the costs and consider how much you could afford.

Student Finance

Bursaries

Student Loans

The following site contains a wealth of useful information and links on the costs of being a student in Scotland

How much does it cost to go to college or university?

Can I get help with my living expenses?

How much does student accommodation cost?

Can I get a part-time job while I am studying?

Will I receive SAAS funding for every year of my studies?